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[RoadHazard]

I wanted another fun platformer after the amazing Astro Bot, so I thought I'd try Sackboy. And oh man is it bad.

It starts out inoffensive enough, just a simple platformer without much challenge. But eventually it starts becoming more challenging. Not a bad thing as such – I wish Astro Bot had more difficult levels – but this game just doesn't have the controls for it. Sackboy has ZERO momentum, he always feels terribly slow and unresponsive. Once you get to the more difficult trial levels it's an absolute nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I love a challenging platformer. But this game is difficult for all the wrong reasons. The levels aren't really that hard, but they become hard because Sackboy controls like an absolute asshole.

I also HATE the ridiculous sound he makes when dying, and all the waiting you have to do between each level.

So yeah, if you're thinking of trying this game because you have Astro withdrawal, don't. It's terrible.

 

[KungFucius]

I played it near launch with my then 6 year old son. It was decent enough in co-op.

 

[Unknown?]

I played it near launch with my then 6 year old son. It was decent enough in co-op.

I didn't think it was bad other than being too easy.

 

[RoadHazard]

I played it near launch with my then 6 year old son. It was decent enough in co-op.

Yeah, maybe if you just want to casually beat the main levels. I can't do that when playing a game like this, I need to beat everything without dying etc (which the game also encourages).

 

[XXL]

If you need more Astro Bot get a PSVR 1 and play Rescue Mission. It's just as good (or better) than Astro Bot.

 

[Pelao]

I didn't hate it as much as you did, but I basically went through the same process when I finished Astro's Playroom.
And yeah, I tried again when I finished Astrobot.

 

[BiohazardX95]

I played it with my nieces, it was very good. You should play it with someone, just like LBP for it to get much better. Also, You can just keep circle pressed to roll and be faster.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

I thought it was pretty awesome. Is it in Astro's level? Na, not that level but I still thought it was really solid. Don't listen to OP people, try it out, especially as it's probably dirt cheap now.

 

[Raven117]

It was solid when it came out.

 

[rm082e]

Great co-op game to play with a kid. My son and I loved it.

 

[TexMex]

Got the platinum for it. It's not particularly great, but very far from "awful." Just a super generic but relatively pleasing platformer.

Also, all the people complaining about the final challenge level in Astrobot wouldn't have a prayer in this one. It's so, so rough. But I loved doing it.

 

[dreamstation]

I thought it was a solid platformer. The thing I don't like about the Sackboy games is the dumbo story/characters that get shoehorned in. At least Astro Bot is 100% gameplay no silly characters or cutscenes.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Everything Sackboy related is shit. Even the Little Big Planets.

 

[analog_future]

I loved it

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

The entire franchise has always belonged in the dumpster and I'm always glad to see more people realize it. Some of the most mechanically deficient games ever developed.

 

[rabbity-thing]

You can't follow a genre masterpiece with a lesser game from the same genre. You need a palate cleanser, my guy.

 

[Sooner]

It's a good game. That's all it is though.

Astro is GOTY material.

 

[kevboard]

Everything Sackboy related is shit. Even the Little Big Planets.

 

[kevboard]

So yeah, if you're thinking of trying this game because you have Astro withdrawal, don't. It's terrible.

anyone who wants actually good platformers, here are some for different tastes:

Deep controls, innovative and expansive:

Simple, adorable and chill: (there's a demo)

Weird, funny, unique, with more depth than it first seems, perfect for Steam Deck owners: (there's a demo)

Trend-Sport meets platformer, great soundtrack. a no-brainer for Jet Set Radio fans, as it is basically Jet Set Radio 3:

momentum based, high skill ceiling, imagine if 3D Sonic games were actually good: (There is a Demo)

 

[MayauMiao]

The floaty control killed it for me. I couldn't finish the first level.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Yea this was not a good game. The novelty wore off quickly.

 

[Danjin44]

What made Little Big Planet special was its robust level creation not for its platforming or Sackboy as mascot.

 

[existensmaximum]

Everything Sackboy related is shit. Even the Little Big Planets.

This is the truth, really. I've tried playing all of the games but I could never get any enjoyment from any of them and I love platformers.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

I like it because ut's one of the only 3d platformers in the last 5 years that has some challenge to it. Astrobot is a joke difficulty wise which ruins ut for me.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

I like it because ut's one of the only 3d platformers in the last 5 years that has some challenge to it. Astrobot is a joke difficulty wise which ruins ut for me.

Sackboy also looks great

 

[kevboard]

This is the truth, really. I've tried playing all of the games but I could never get any enjoyment from any of them and I love platformers.

yup. a platformer with bad controls is pretty much automatically a bad game. and Little Big Planet was guilty of exactly that. not even the best level editor in the world can save that.

 

[Dafegamer]

I don't consider the LBP "platformers" in that sense but they're more like puzzle side scrollers. They're mostly about puzzle solving instead of precise fast paced platforming like Mario, DK, or Sonic and Rayman. The floaty jump is very inoffensive and the levels are build around slower paced platforming.
The Sackboy 3D Platformer is far from "awful" it's pretty decent actually, it just isn't as snappy as ASTRO BOT, but it's not a reason to call it awful. Awful is things like Bubsy or that Alice game

 

[Fahdis]

You can't follow a genre masterpiece with a lesser game from the same genre. You need a palate cleanser, my guy.

The Palate Cleanser: Concord

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

yup. a platformer with bad controls is pretty much automatically a bad game. and Little Big Planet was guilty of exactly that. not even the best level editor in the world can save that.

LBP is a physics-based platformer. It's ok you don't like the concept but the idea is fresh and original and is very well executed.

Calling LBP a bad game because it doesn't have easy jumping is the same as trashing Zelda for its mediocre combat.

 

[kevboard]

LBP is a physics-based platformer. It's ok you don't like the concept but the idea is fresh and original and is very well executed.

Calling LBP a bad game because it doesn't have easy jumping is the same as trashing Zelda for its mediocre combat.

physics based is no excuse for feeling unresponsive both due to floaty controls and due to bad audio-visual feedback from bad animations.

 

[vodka-bull]

It had a great artstyle, it was a fresh platformer, it was challenging in a few levels and I got a platinum. Needless to say I liked it. Sure, controls were a bit spongey but that's not something unintentional, it was specifically designed that way to have a little challenge in the game and to give it a slower pace.

 

[ChoosableOne]

Yeah, maybe if you just want to casually beat the main levels. I can't do that when playing a game like this, I need to beat everything without dying etc (which the game also encourages).

Clearly you're not the target audience for the game. It's more of a simple co-op platformer aimed at a younger audience. I haven't seen many people trying to finish Kirby without losing health either. Your complaint seems akin to someone trying to play Dark Souls with a Guitar Hero controller and then complaining they couldn't finish it. It is a fun, semi-challenging game. I don't get the hate this game gets. We enjoyed it a lot.

 

[hemo memo]

I wouldn't say it's awful, but it's just below average. The gameplay is repetitive and the level design uninspired.

 

[RoadHazard]

Clearly you're not the target audience for the game. It's more of a simple co-op platformer aimed at a younger audience. I haven't seen many people trying to finish Kirby without losing health either. Your complaint seems akin to someone trying to play Dark Souls with a Guitar Hero controller and then complaining they couldn't finish it. It is a fun, semi-challenging game. I don't get the hate this game gets. We enjoyed it a lot.

Huh? Acing each level is part of the level goals in the game itself, it isn't some challenge I've made up myself.

 

[RoadHazard]

anyone who wants actually good platformers, here are some for different tastes:

Deep controls, innovative and expansive:

Simple, adorable and chill: (there's a demo)

Weird, funny, unique, with more depth than it first seems, perfect for Steam Deck owners: (there's a demo)

Trend-Sport meets platformer, great soundtrack. a no-brainer for Jet Set Radio fans, as it is basically Jet Set Radio 3:

momentum based, high skill ceiling, imagine if 3D Sonic games were actually good: (There is a Demo)

I've played Odyssey of course. But yeah, I do need to play Penny.

 

[Cakeboxer]

I think Sackboy and the running gag Knack werent't that bad. No Mario, but still enjoyable.

 

[N0S]

Never liked the IP.

 

[midnightAI]

Your problem is you played it after Astro Bot

 

[GHG]

Skill issue.

Had great fun playing this with the Mrs. If even someone like her who isn't a gamer can adapt and get to grips with the more difficult levels then it is say 99% of people should be able to.

 

[Windle Poons]

There was a reason I rage-quit on this game... some levels just beyond my ageing reflexes.

Got it with my PS5 iirc. Not touched it in years.

 

[T-Cake]

Got the platinum for it. It's not particularly great, but very far from "awful." Just a super generic but relatively pleasing platformer.

Also, all the people complaining about the final challenge level in Astrobot wouldn't have a prayer in this one. It's so, so rough. But I loved doing it.

Whaaaaat? How many attempts did it take for you to get gold on the last Knitted Knight's challenge?

 

[AV]

There is exactly one hard level in Sackboy and it's the final challenge. That was the only time for me that it felt like the controls really got in the way.

 

[clarky]

What made Little Big Planet special was its robust level creation not for its platforming or Sackboy as mascot.

I don't follow. You are saying you could make great levels but then they played like shit? How's that good?

 

[clarky]

Everything Sackboy related is shit. Even the Little Big Planets.

The entire franchise has always belonged in the dumpster and I'm always glad to see more people realize it. Some of the most mechanically deficient games ever developed.

10/10 from Edge folks though right??

 

[Rivdoric]

Whaaaaat? How many attempts did it take for you to get gold on the last Knitted Knight's challenge?

I did it without too much trouble.
However, the bonus levels you unlock after finishing the story, those i gave up, some of them were a torture level of difficulty.

 

[T-Cake]

I did it without too much trouble.
However, the bonus levels you unlock after finishing the story, those i gave up, some of them were a torture level of difficulty.

Hats off to you, sir. I can't even complete the level yet, I'm always dying.

 

[Rivdoric]

Hats off to you, sir. I can't even complete the level yet, I'm always dying.

Well, i'm unable to beat the last Valkyrie on GoW except EZ mode so that depends on the game i suppose .
But just try the bonus levels i'm referencing and have fun lol !

 

[TexMex]

Whaaaaat? How many attempts did it take for you to get gold on the last Knitted Knight's challenge?

No clue, I did save my run of it though.



It's about a 12 minute long obstacle course and if you die you go back to the start.

 

[sainraja]

I wanted another fun platformer after the amazing Astro Bot, so I thought I'd try Sackboy. And oh man is it bad.

It starts out inoffensive enough, just a simple platformer without much challenge. But eventually it starts becoming more challenging. Not a bad thing as such – I wish Astro Bot had more difficult levels – but this game just doesn't have the controls for it. Sackboy has ZERO momentum, he always feels terribly slow and unresponsive. Once you get to the more difficult trial levels it's an absolute nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I love a challenging platformer. But this game is difficult for all the wrong reasons. The levels aren't really that hard, but they become hard because Sackboy controls like an absolute asshole.

I also HATE the ridiculous sound he makes when dying, and all the waiting you have to do between each level.

So yeah, if you're thinking of trying this game because you have Astro withdrawal, don't. It's terrible.

You are playing this after riding off the high of Astro. Give it some time or play it a little longer, you have to give yourself sometime to adjust to the controls. I think it's a pretty good/fun platformer.

 

[Shakka43]

I loved it, felt similar to Mario 3d World in gameplay and quality. I played a lot of it in coop mode though so that helped with the fun factor.